Images: Remembering Satyajit Ray, the artist

Before he became an award-winning filmmaker, Satyajit Ray was an illustrator and designer whose work, though commercial, was considered pioneering by contemporaries. On his 92nd birthday, here’s a look at some of Ray’s work as a graphic artist.

[caption id=“attachment_746093” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Left: A book cover designed by Ray. Right: A page from a Bengali primer that Ray designed and illustrated. From Looking Beyond: Graphics of Satyajit Ray (Roli Books).[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_746095” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] It was while doing these illustrations for Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay’s novel, Aam Atir Bhepu, that Ray got the idea of making Pather Panchali. From Looking Beyond: Graphics of Satyajit Ray (Roli Books).[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_746097” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Left: Ray’s drawing of his fictional detective, Feluda. Right: Poster for Ray’s film, Mahanagar. From Looking Beyond: Graphics of Satyajit Ray (Roli Books).[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_746099” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Left: Ray’s sketch of a scene from Devi. Right: One of Ray’s Charulata sketches. Ray used his sketches as references for set and costume design in his films. From Looking Beyond: Graphics of Satyajit Ray (Roli Books).[/caption]